124
Sir Kay led the
knights under him at the Legionnaires. They were outnumbered but their mounts
made them faster. They thrust their long spears at the Legionnaires which have
formed the favoured tetsudo formation. The walled formation proved to be
invulnerable but the knights persisted. It was one of the strategies for the
knights while a foot soldier sneaked up to toss the oil laden jugs before it
was ignited by the flaming torch. The fire spread out on the spilled oil and it
disrupted the Legionnaires to hold the formation.
“Break in!” Sir
Kay called out before he charged his mount in. The horse was covered with a
mail chain coat over it main body but the creature suffered cut on the exposed
sides. It took then a well-placed pilus to send the horse pivoting forward and
throwing its rider.
Sir Kay fell
facedown but the years of fighting with the armour allowed him to roll to the
side to avoid the thrusting pilus. He had lost his own spear and shield but he
drew on his sword. It was not a Roman’s gladius but a full length broadsword.
He swung that at the legs of the Romans before he crouched up to face them. The
armour was not easy to get up with but he saw his chance when a Legionnaire
came at him with the pilus. Sir Kay grabbed the spear below the metal blade and
when the other reacted by pulling it back. Sir Kay used the leverage to pull
up. He stood up from the assisted move and then rushed at the legionnaire with
his sword arching at the left shoulder. The blade of the heavier sword cut in
deep and killed the legionnaire.
“Yea!” Sir Kay
screamed out as if he was back in the arena entertaining the crowd then. He
then searched for the next victim but he was caught out then by the other
legionnaire. The pilus stabbed into his back but the chest armour deflected the
blade. It caused the knight to topple forth once more but that time, he was
unfortunate to be hit by a fleeing horse whose rider had dismounted. The horse
knocked Sir Kay off his feet and went body down. He was dazed by the impact but
his woes were to end when a legionnaire thrust the pilus into the exposed neck
below the head piece. He tried to turn his body but others have joined in and
soon he was a lifeless body on the battle field; unrecognized from the multiple
stabbings.
Arthur saw from
afar the knight’s plight but his own entourage of knights were pressed on by
the Legionnaires. He fought his way passed the legionnaires trailed by the
protective cordon of knights. He could not reach the knight before a mass of
legionnaires came at him.
“Protect the
King!” Belvedere directed the knights. The brave knight then rushed towards Sir
Kay. He had not known the other for long but the call of brotherhood told he
was to rescue the other. He rushed in with his mount hoofs trampling on the
fallen. He came upon what may be Sir Kay’s body but it was hard to confirm for
the body was partially covered with the torn armour pieces and there was blood
all around. He could not make the face but then he was pushed back by the
renewed line up of legionnaire. He backed up with his sword deflecting the
pilus thrust at him but soon he was behind a line-up of foot soldiers and other
knights. They formed a line for him to retreat and soon he was on his horse. He
rode out once again to fight the enemies with his sword bloodied to the hilt.
He fought hard to reach the spot where he saw Sir Kay but the body was not
there anymore.
“Where is he?”
Belvedere hollered out in pain. “I want to …”
“Sir, there is
no body to be buried and yours will be next.” Belvedere turned to look at the
one who spoke. It was the enemy’s leader, Optimus Prime of the Legion. The
other was mounted on the horse and held a sceptre. When he saw Belvedere
looking at him, he tucked in the sceptre and then drew out his gladius. The
centurion was without any chest armour or gaunlets.
“I am Optimus Prime Julius of ….” The Prime was
interrupted in the words by Belvedere.
“I am Sir Belvedere of …” The knight stopped then. “I
shall only tell you this. I do not addressed myself to barbarians who invade my
land. Fight me and be done.”
“You are a savage of the land. If it’s then, I shall
fight you with none of the mercy deserved by a Man.” The Roman leader charged
at the knight. They clashed with their swords and deflected with their shields.
The metal blades clanged with the ferocity of its master and finally one had to
yield.
“Ahhhh…” The knight felt the sharpness on his waist
where it cut in deep on the exposed chest plate. He retreated with his left
hand holding the wound while his eyes did not leave sight of the Roman.
“A barbaric skill is on the strength but we fought
with tactical moves.” The Prime stood there heaving in deep breaths. “Yield,
barbarian and yet your life may be spared.”
“Nay!” An overzealous legionnaire sprang forth with
the pilus aimed at the knight’s face but Belvedere deflected the thrust. The
sneak attack by the legionnaire earned the wrath of the Prime when he stabbed
the other.
“You were not to intervene.” Prime Optimus Julius told
the others off. He then looked at Belvedere. “Even in anger, our enemy deserved
fairness.”
The knight pulled off his head piece and then his
chest armor.
“If its fairness then I will fight you without my
armor.” Belvedere gripped the broadsword in the double handed method before he
swung into action. He was without his heavy armor and moved with speed on his
attacks. He pressed on his attack and then he had his opening to lay the blade
into the Prime chest. The wound was deep and fatal but the Prime had retreated
and dropped his gladius. He was immediately surrounded by the legionnaires then
to stop further attack.
“Kill the…” The leading Centurion called out to the
legionnaires but the command was stopped by the Prime.
“Stop! Let him
go” Prime Optimus Julius told the others. “You may leave now.”
“No! He dies
today.” It was a mercenary recruited by the Romans. “Too many of my men died at
his sword.”
“My command is
he lives or fight me.” Optimus Prime challenged the mercenary. “I am your
master here.”
The mercenary
looked to the others around him and saw the odds were against him. He retreated
to fight elsewhere but the horns had announced for a retreat. Optimus Prime
Julius was furious at the retreat and called for a meeting with the Procurator.
“What madness
prevailed in you?” The seasoned Centurion confronted the other. “We were
winning.”
“On which side
of the battle were you? We were outflanked at the left by the Scots and the
reserve cohorts were reinforcing me at the centre.”
“I was making
headway in the right and we could had surrounded them.” The Centurion defended
his action. “We could have won.”
“Was that your
assessment or the fallacy from the Gods? I am calling for a regroup before we
continued on.” The Procurator made known his command once more. “Obey me or
leave for Rome, Julius.”
It was the same
with Arthur who had to contend with dismal reports of his army. He was seated
at the seat reserved for him while his faithful gathered before him then at the
tent.
“Arthur, we have
the Scots winning but their numbers are badly reduced. Our own knights are down
to half and even more of the wounded may not ride again.” Sir Tristam reported
in. “And Sir Kay is assumed dead but Sir Belvedere may not fight today.”
Arthur slumped
on his shoulders while taking in the reports. He was not spared of the cuts and
bruises but they will heal. He looked at Lancelot who was limping on the right
leg. He searched for more familiar faces and found Gaheris.
“What is holding
your brother, Gawain and Galahad?” It was a hopeless gesture but the brother
replied.
“Galahad send
his men but they are …not enough.” Gaheris then stood up to drag himself out of
the tent.
“Let me
challenge the Centurion on single battle.” Lancelot voiced out. It was not a
Roman’s officer mode to do personal battles. “I will shame him if he refuses.”
The knights
there let off laughters on the words by Lancelot but Arthur stopped them.
“None will do
that. We are…” Arthur glared at Lancelot. “You should know for you were one of
them before.”
“If anyone were
to challenge the Centurion, it will be me.” Arthur volunteered himself. “I am the
..,, King, I called for this battle and I will win this war.”
Some knights
protested and even Tristam who offered to go in place but not Lancelot; that
one glared at Arthur.
“Arthur, you are
going to get killed. It was my challenge and …” Lancelot questioned the other.
Arthur mocked a laughter and then he replied.
“Have you fought
with me long? How long? Since we found Camelot? Have you ever seen me behind
the cordon of knights? Have…”
“Arthur, you are
….”
“I will
challenge the Roman leader myself. Anyone stopping me can fight me first.”
Arthur challenged the knights with his left hand on the hilt of his sword. The
knights there stood with some of them transfixed on the sword. Arthur caught
their focus.
“I will fight
you without Excalibur.”
It was then
Lancelot called for the knights to leave the tent until he was alone with
Arthur.
“You are a
bastard. Stop your antics with the knights. You want to fight? Go ahead. You
are the bastard here.” Lancelot then stormed out. Just before he exit Lancelot
turned back to Arthur.
“The only reason
we did those things for you was because you are the King. The love you like I
…used to do but after today, I am not sure anymore.”
No comments:
Post a Comment